Samuel c



, (No Model.)

S. 0. SAMS.

OAR COUPLING.

No. 494,941. Patented Apr. '4, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFlCE- SAMUEL O. SAMS, OF ASPEN, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO LOU D. SWEET, OF SAME PLACE.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 494,941, dated April 4, 1893.

Application filed January 14, 1898.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL O. SAMS, of Aspen, in the county of Pitkin and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the inventiomsuch as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention contemplates certain new and useful improvements in car-couplings, and it has for its object, first, the production of simple and highly efiicient means for properly positioning the link and coupling pin ready for automatic coupling of cars, and secend, a new and improved form of pin which will possess increased strength and also serve to hold the coupling-link in position for entrance into an approaching drawhead.

The invention consists of a drawhead having a cross-shaped opening provided with an upper rearward inclined wall, and a coupling pin of cross-shape in cross-section designed to rest against said wall when not in use.

The invention also comprises the detail construction, combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:-Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, with parts broken away, of a drawhead provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the pin in position prior to coupling. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of two drawheads coupled together. Fig. 4 is an end view. Fig. 5 is a view of the pin. Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view thereof on the line 00-00. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the drawhead with the pin removed.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the drawhead having a front flared opening a, from which extends inwardly a chamber a. The bottom a of this chamber is rearwardly inclined and forms a rest or shoulder a atits outer end. The object of thus forming the bottom is that the coupling-link B when not coupled to another car will occupy the position shown in Fig. 1, that is to say, it will be extended upwardly at its outer end ready for Serial No. 458,336. (No model.)

entrance into an approaching drawhead. In the top of drawhead A is an opening of cross-shape and the upper rear wall I) thereof is beveled or rearwardly inclined from a point about midway the top of the drawhead.

O is the coupling pin which is preferably made of iron. From opposite sides of this pin project ribs or wings d which extend from the head d to a point beyond the middle of the pin. Hence the pin is approximately cross-shape in cross-section taken through the ribs or wings. The lower end of the pin, namely, that portion beneath the ends of the ribs or wings, corresponds in thickness with the opening in the link and a bottom opening in the drawhead through both of which it is designed to project. The ribbed portion of the pin corresponds with the cross-shape opening in the top of the drawhead and hence is guided in its movement. hen lowered the ends of the ribs or wings rest upon the side bars of the link and the weight of the pin holds said link in the position shown in Fig.

1. "When elevated the pin will occupy the position shown in Fig. 2, that is, it will rest against the rearwardly inclined wall, its lower, front end bearing against the front vertical wall of said opening. Upon two cars striking together the concussion will cause the pin to be lowered and its lower end pass through the link carried by the other draw-head.

lhe advantages of my invention are apparent. By providing the coupling pin with the lateral ribs or wings the strength thereof is greatly enhanced, the link is held firm in its position ready for coupling with the drawhead of an approaching car, and by making the opening in the top of the drawhead to correspond with the shape of the pin the latter is guided in its movement and its entrance through the opening in the link and bottom of the drawhead always insured. By means of my invention it is not necessary for a trainman to pass in between the cars in order to effect the coupling thereof, as is the case when the link is held loose, or allowed to hang down.

A car coupling thus constructed is extremely simple and inexpensive and not liable to readily get out of order.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination with the drawhead havling pin having lateral ribs or wings throughing across-shaped openingin its top provided out a portion of its length, substantially as with a rearwardly inclined wall, of the coupset forth. lin pin herein described having lateral Wings In testimony whereof I have signed this 5' and designed to fit in said cross-shaped openspecification in the presence of two subscrib- I5 ing, substantially as set forth. 1 ing Witnesses. 2. The herein-described improved carcoupling, comprising the chambered drawhead Witnesses:

having a rearwardlyinelined bottom and a e W. T DoUBT,

r cross-shaped opening in its top, and the coup- JOHN C. Cox.

SAMUEL C. SAMS. 

